Dynamic sex chromosome expression in Drosophila male germ cells

Sharvani Mahadevaraju, Justin M. Fear, Miriam Akeju, Brian J. Galletta, Mara M.L.S. Pinheiro, Camila C. Avelino, Diogo C. Cabral-de-Mello, Katie Conlon, Stafania Dell’Orso, Zelalem Demere, Kush Mansuria, Carolina A. Mendonça, Octavio M. Palacios-Gimenez, Eli Ross, Max Savery, Kevin Yu, Harold E. Smith, Vittorio Sartorelli, Haiwang Yang, Nasser M. RusanMaria D. Vibranovski, Erika Matunis, Brian Oliver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Given their copy number differences and unique modes of inheritance, the evolved gene content and expression of sex chromosomes is unusual. In many organisms the X and Y chromosomes are inactivated in spermatocytes, possibly as a defense mechanism against insertions into unpaired chromatin. In addition to current sex chromosomes, Drosophila has a small gene-poor X-chromosome relic (4th) that re-acquired autosomal status. Here we use single cell RNA-Seq on fly larvae to demonstrate that the single X and pair of 4th chromosomes are specifically inactivated in primary spermatocytes, based on measuring all genes or a set of broadly expressed genes in testis we identified. In contrast, genes on the single Y chromosome become maximally active in primary spermatocytes. Reduced X transcript levels are due to failed activation of RNA-Polymerase-II by phosphorylation of Serine 2 and 5.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number892
JournalNature communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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